TENANTS on an Eltham housing estate can look forward to warmer winters and lower fuel bills as part of a £22.5m improvement programme.

More than 100 residents living in four blocks of flats in Middle Park Avenue will benefit under the scheme set to improve estates in the south of the borough.

The five-year programme, upgrading 4,000 homes, will be funded by the council's housing investment programme and the South Greenwich Regeneration Agency.

The latest phase, approved by Greenwich Council's cabinet committee earlier this month, will give Middle Park residents double glazing, improved insulation and electrics.

Middle Park ward councillor Barry Taylor said: "Tenants have made it very clear these are the kind of measures which will improve their lives. I'm very pleased the council's investment programme is able to meet their needs."

Other estates in the programme include:

Horn Park more than 300 homes will receive similar improvements

Page lift, window and central heating replacement in 90 flats, in Tattersall Close is underway

Kidbrooke Park a programme of new windows, heating systems and rewiring kicks-off next year.

The Building New Links programme aims to integrate housing improvements with job opportunities. The council-backed Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB) is at the forefront of this initiative.

It will be offering people training in the skills needed for window replacement and those with plumbing and electrical skills a chance to upgrade their qualifications.

Agency chairman Councillor Quentin Marsh said: "We are starting to see important signs of change and strong links are being forged between agencies as they start to involve local people in improving the long-term prospects for the south of the borough."

Work on the Middle Park estate is due to start in early January.

December 13, 2001 17:01